But he said the term "leadership" often meant "different things to different people" and urged caution in treating it as a magical solution.

Speaking at an event organised by the Third Sector Research Centre in Birmingham last week, Rees told delegates that to some people leadership was about how an organisation is led, but to others it was more about management development or governance.

This made it difficult to define and pin down, he added.

Rees suggested leadership development had become fashionable because it was seen as a "cheap and achievable" response to uncertain times.

"My sense is that leadership is seen as a silver bullet for the sector," he said.

But he added that most organisations had highly specific needs and it therefore wasn't clear what the plethora of opportunities could do for the sector as a whole.

One of the biggest challenges facing leadership course providers, Rees said, was "reaching those who need it most".

He cited the voluntary sector leadership course run by the centre where he works as an example.

Expert Hub

When a property is being constructed, VAT is charged at the standard rate. But if you're a charity, health body, educational institution, housing association or finance house, the work may well fall into a category that justifies zero-rating - and you could make a massive saving